Warning! Spoilers ahead for The Penguin #7!Everything fans know about one of the DC Universe’s most iconic villains has always been a lie. A story set in the past reveals a surprising connection between Batman and an unexpected member of his rogues’ gallery and sheds light on why this villain has been faking his larger-than-life persona.
In The Penguin #7 by Tom King and Stevan Subic, Batman and the Penguin’s secret partnership has gone on for over a year, but Oswald realizes that criminals everywhere are growing suspicious as everyone is taken out by Batman except for Cobblepot.
During one of their meetings, Cobblepot presents Batman with an idea: To throw people off, Cobblepot will commit crimes under a criminal identity similar to the Joker or Riddler, forcing Batman to arrest him and getting Cobblepot sent to Arkham rather than Blackgate. Oswald fashions his first Penguin outfit and attacks Batman, beginning the crime boss’ super-villain legacy.
The Penguin’s Identity Was All A Ruse to Control Gotham’s Underground
The Penguin’s latest chapter revealed Oswald Cobblepot’s ruthless rise to power. In his earliest days, Cobblepot was a meek bartender who took orders and degradation from Carmine Falcone. Tired of being a nobody, Oswald decided to turn on his employer and started providing information on Falcone’s operation to Falcone. However, this wasn’t out of any sort of kindness or sense of justice. Cobblepot was out to become a large part of the criminal underworld, which happened once he managed to manipulate Batman into allowing Oswald to be a ‘puppet’ leader and continue plying the Dark Knight with information.
The Penguin’s always been an odd fit in Batman’s rogues’ gallery. He’s not like most in that he’s not insane in the conventional sense, yet he plays up his gimmick just as much as some of Batman’s more colorful villains like Two-Face or the Ventriloquist. One would think it’s just a part of the criminal culture Gotham fostered, but it’s actually a brilliant move on Oswald’s part. By adopting and hamming up his Penguin persona, Cobblepot was able to take advantage of Arkham’s more lenient system and throw off suspicion of Oswald working with Batman to gain power.
The Penguin is the Smartest Batman Rogue of All
Penguin’s gambit was a bold and smart one as no one ever caught on to his secret deal with Batman. He knew that Gotham had a peculiar criminal element and that the only way he was going to survive was by embracing it. As Oswald Cobblepot, he would have been found out years ago. But as Batman’s nemesis the Penguin, he was seen as just another strange villain in a sea of other costumed criminals. By faking his manic, over-the-top persona, the DC Universe’s Penguin was able to both make a name for himself and work his secret deal with Batman for years.
The Penguin #7 is available now from DC Comics.
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